Kia Sportage 2017

2017 Kia Sportage Expert Rundown Review

Looking for a small crossover SUV with both style and versatility? The 2017 Kia Sportage might be a good match. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.

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[BRYN MACKINNON: ] I'm Bryn MacKinnon and this is an Edmunds expert rundown of the 2017 Kia Sportage. [MUSIC PLAYING] The Sportage looks a bit odd to some of us from the front, kind of like its nose got chopped off by a meat cleaver. [MUSIC PLAYING] We've heard the dreaded Subaru benign Tribeca comparison, too, but from the side and the back, the Sportage redeems itself with taut proportions and a generally upscale vibe. On the road, we've been impressed by the Sportage's agreeable ride and although the optional turbo engine isn't that fast by the numbers, it does add a useful helping of low-end torque for quick stoplight getaways. [MUSIC PLAYING] The Sportage is also athletic around corners and laudably quiet at highway speeds. It's a pleasure to drive, though the fuel economy is less enjoyable. Inside the Sportage, you'll find a remarkably spacious back seat for a small crossover. You could put a couple six-footers back there without a second thought. [MUSIC PLAYING] Moving to the front compartment, the Sportage's dashboard has a modern look and it's canted toward the driver with logically arrayed and easy-to-use controls-- not much to complain about here. The fuel economy numbers might give you pause, but otherwise, the bottom line is that Kia's got a winner with the new Sportage. The good news for you is that this segment is full of appealing options, including the all new Honda CRV, the Mazda CX-5, and the Toyota RAV4. But don't sleep on the Sportage-- it's got a lot going for it. For more Edmunds expert rundowns, click the link to subscribe. [MUSIC PLAYING]

The Sportage is the model that put Kia on the map for American consumers back in the mid-'90s, pairing Mazda-sourced mechanicals with appealing trucklet styling that called to mind the contemporaneous Isuzu Trooper. Fun fact: That original Sportage actually rode on a rear-wheel-drive platform, with four-wheel drive offered as an option. The Sportage subsequently switched to car-based, front-wheel-drive underpinnings, but every new model has been better than the last. The fully redesigned 2017 Sportage is no exception, and this latest overhaul took care of at least two of our complaints about the previous generation — the cramped backseat (which is now downright roomy) and the flinty ride (which is newly nice and smooth).

The 2017 Kia Sportage offers a choice of two four-cylinder engines. The base 2.4-liter lump has 181 horsepower, while the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four cranks it up to 240 hp. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard either way. Fuel economy isn't that great, with the 2.4-liter engine topping out at an EPA-estimated 29 mpg on the highway and the turbo-four dropping to 26 mpg highway. That's with front-wheel drive, mind you; those numbers sink if you opt for all-wheel drive. Happily, both engines are smooth and quiet, but as you'd expect, the turbo is more fun.

Even with AWD, the Sportage isn't an ideal off-roader. In Kia's words, it's a vehicle that was "conceived for urban adventures." Still, AWD offers that extra margin of safety and sure-footedness, especially in bad weather. You'll just have to weigh the significance of that fuel-economy trade-off.

Outside, the new Sportage is quite handsome from the back and in profile, although the tall, flat nose and high-mounted headlights may provoke unwelcome flashbacks to the Subaru B9 Tribeca. Inside, the new Sportage receives upgrades with luxury-class undertones, especially at the top of the model range. But materials quality is quite nice even in the base Sportage, and the cabin stays respectably quiet at speed. The optional 7- or 8-inch touchscreen is easy to use and offers full smartphone connectivity.

The 31 cubic feet of storage space in the rear is more than the outgoing model had but is less than some competitors offer. The second-row seatbacks fold down, of course, if you need additional room.

The new Sportage is decidedly a step up from its predecessor, and we think it's nice enough to merit close consideration from fans of other brands. Let Edmunds help you figure out which version of the 2017 Kia Sportage is right for you.

Is the 2017 Kia Sportage a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Kia Sportage and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 Sportage featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Our Review ProcessAll of our reviews are written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

What do people think of the 2017 Kia Sportage? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Kia Sportage and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Sportage a 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Sportage.

Vehicle EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

Review Thirteen Month Update: I guess if I were to change the title, I would change it to " And The Winner Still Is" the Kia Sportage. Every interior and exterior surface still looks totally new. The car's driving dynamics are as sharp as the day I bought it. The steering wheel and front end still perfectly aligned. Not a rattle or vibration anywhere. Though my most recent cars have been Hondas, I've owned two BMWs and a Mercedes 300E and over time they show and feel their age. At 13 months there's not even a hint of that in the Sportage. As I've said twice before, every time I get into the car I look forward to the driving experience. Outshines everything else in the category except in gas mile Seven Month Update: Per my original review, the 2017 Sportage is exceptional in every way. If you enjoy driving and you are in the market for a compact SUV there is just nothing else in this price range, that uses regular unleaded that even comes close to delivering the pleasure of driving the Sportage. Every morning, 7 months later I still look forward to taking it out on the road. The car has a beautiful silhouette that I just never tire of looking at. Seats in the EX are extremely comfortable. The car is easy to park and has plenty of hp to get you on the highway safely. The car is super quiet at least compare to my previous Honda CRVs. The safety features and camera that come with the EX Premium Package work flawlessly as does the whole multi-media interface for easy connections to your cell phone or Ipad. The vehicle is rock solid not a squeak or rattle anywhere. Buying a car is a totally subjective thing but if like myself, there is or was a reluctance to try a Korean car as opposed to an American or Canadian made Japanese vehicle......I think with 2017 the entire Kia line up shows a depth of quality, performance and design sophistication that Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Subaru just don't feel they need to step up to. Would highly recommend that you include both the Sportage on your test drive list. I?m going into week three with my 2017 Sportage EX with AWD and the EX Premium Package and just enjoy the heck out of it. I had crossed shopped the Kia with the Honda CRV and Mazda CX5. Other then gas mileage, the CRV is lacking in every category from ride quality, to handling, to quiet on the road, to the electronics and design language. In terms of design, Honda?s approach is to add 4 pieces of fake chrome and call it a mid cycle refresh. I happen to have had a 2016 CRV rental for 10 days and found the CVT yet another Honda attempt to convince us that it was worth sacrificing any pleasure at all in the driving experience for gas mileage and it just ain?t so. I?m a 6 time Honda owner including 3 CRVs and if the Kia delivers on the reliability I?m hoping for, those will probably be my last Hondas. The Mazda CX5 Touring with AWD was seemingly a less expensive and attractive alternative to the Kia in spite of it being 4-year-old technology, at least until you go just a bit under the skin. Check out the 61 complaints on the NHSTA website for the 2016 CX5, most of which focus on catastrophic failures of the transmission. In fact, look at blogs across the world including New Zealand and Australia, it's a worldwide problem. And borrowing right from the movie Fight Club, the Old GM Handbook and Ford Pinto Directives, Mazda has taken the position that its cheaper to put their CX5 customers in harms way then to retool and fix the problem. All a Mazda Representative could say about the transmission failures was: the problem usually doesn?t happen twice to the same person. If that wasn?t enough to discourage me, there are the strange interior ergonomics of the vehicle with the cup holder placement too far back and thus impossible to use for your GPS, the poor rearward visibility and the location of the armrest. I also drove, to my great disappointment, the Hyundai Tuscon which at least for 2017 had probably the worst, under powered, turbo engine I've ever experienced. I can't believe that anyone in Hyundai top management even bothered to drive the car before they green lighted it. You hit the gas, Nothing happens for 2-3 seconds and the the vehicle begins to move. A total disaster of an engine. The Sportage reminds me in a general way of the Audi Q5. It drives and feels planted like a German car. When you close the doors it sounds like a German car. Its nice to know that Peter Schreyer and the engineers he works with instilled more then a look into the vehicle. All the electronics and infotainment work well and are user friendly. The back up camera, rear traffic avoidance and blind spot monitoring are great. Sound quality on the radio us better then expected. Rearward visibility is excellent. At least on paper, the Magna AWD system with locking differential is probably the most sophisticated and capable on the market other then the Quattro and Subaru systems. So all in and all, I?m very pleased with the vehicle and enjoy driving it.

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